October 10, 1923.
Mr. C. L. Brewer,
University of Mo.,
Columbia, Missouri.
Dear Mr. Brewer:
I have your good favor of recent
date relative to the Saturday's game.
It has been understood for several
years by the faculty members of the
schools in Iowa and Nebraska that colored
men could not be used on teams playing
with schools from the states of Missouri,
Kansas and Oklahoma. There is no written
rule on the subject, only a gentlemens
agreement.
We had no intention of using Jack
Trice in the game with you. However that
is all settled because Jack's injury
resulted in his death Monday afternoon.
I am handing you herewith copy of letter
Jack wrote the day before the game. From
the letter one would not help feel that
Jack must have had premonition of what
actually happened.
I am very glad on account of Missouri
Valley that you have returned to the fold.
With kindest personal regards, I am,
Yours cordially and sincerely,
SWB:LM

Click tabs to swap between content that is broken into logical sections.

Johnny (Jack) Trice was born in Hiram, Ohio in 1902. In 1922, Trice became the first African-American student athlete at Iowa State, participating in track and football. He majored in animal husbandry, with the desire to go to the southern U.S. and use his knowledge to help Black farmers. In the summer after his freshman year, Trice married Cora Mae Starland. They both found jobs in order to support themselves through school. On October 6, 1923, Jack Trice played in his first college football game against the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. During the second play of the game, he broke his collarbone. He insisted he was all right and returned to the game. In the third quarter, University of Minnesota players forced Trice to the ground and crushed him. On October 8, he died from internal bleeding due to injuries received during the game. In 1973, Jack Trice's legacy was renewed and a promotion began to name Iowa State's new stadium after him. In 1974, the Iowa State University Government of Student Body unanimously voted to endorse this effort. In addition, the Jack Trice Stadium Committee compiled more than 3,000 signatures of supporters. An Iowa State University ad hoc committee voted to advise President Robert Parks to name the stadium "Cyclone Stadium." In 1984, the stadium was named "Cyclone Stadium" and the playing field was named "Jack Trice Field." The Government of Student Body, wanting to do more to honor Trice, raised money to erect a statue of Trice in 1987. Due to the persistence of the students, alumni, faculty and staff, and other supporters, the stadium was finally named Jack Trice Stadium in 1997. Find out more about the Jack Trice papers at http://www.add.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/arch/rgrp/21-7-23.html

October 10, 1923.
Mr. C. L. Brewer,
University of Mo.,
Columbia, Missouri.
Dear Mr. Brewer:
I have your good favor of recent
date relative to the Saturday's game.
It has been understood for several
years by the faculty members of the
schools in Iowa and Nebraska that colored
men could not be used on teams playing
with schools from the states of Missouri,
Kansas and Oklahoma. There is no written
rule on the subject, only a gentlemens
agreement.
We had no intention of using Jack
Trice in the game with you. However that
is all settled because Jack's injury
resulted in his death Monday afternoon.
I am handing you herewith copy of letter
Jack wrote the day before the game. From
the letter one would not help feel that
Jack must have had premonition of what
actually happened.
I am very glad on account of Missouri
Valley that you have returned to the fold.
With kindest personal regards, I am,
Yours cordially and sincerely,
SWB:LM